Big Bear High volleyball sweeps Ramona Convent, heads to UCLA for second round

Big Bear High School's volleyball team opened the CIF Division 8 playoffs at home on Oct. 20 by sweeping Ramona Convent 25-20, 25-19, 25-17, improving to 19-8 on the season, according to the student newspaper The Grizzly^[1]. The Lady Bears now take their run on the road, playing Geffen Academy at 5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22, at the SAC Gym on the UCLA campus in Los Angeles^[1]. For Big Bear Valley fans, it means a trip down the hill to follow the team, and a win would keep a local postseason run alive into next week.

How Big Bear won

The Grizzly reports the Lady Bears held the lead throughout the first two sets. The third was tougher: Ramona Convent came out strong and built an early lead while Big Bear "appeared to lose focus," the paper reported, before the Lady Bears regrouped, battled back and took the set and the match^[1].

Two things stood out. Big Bear "put up a roof on the net throughout the match, blocking the majority of hitting attempts by the Tigers," The Grizzly reported, and strong serving kept Ramona Convent on its heels^[1].

Head coach Lara Bauer said film study shaped the serving plan. "(Ramona Convent) was struggling in the seams," Bauer said. "So we practiced spot serving to take advantage of that. It made a big difference."^[1]

Bauer praised her players after the match. "Kira (Ellsworth) was on fire. So was Isla (Kilian). The whole team came together. We had great individual and team performances. That's what I wanted to see," she said^[1]. On the third-set comeback, she said, "We are showing that we are mentally tough"^[1].

What's ahead

Geffen Academy beat Pomona Catholic 3-2 in the first round and is 13-7 this season^[1].

If Big Bear wins Thursday, it advances to the quarterfinals on Tuesday, Oct. 27, against the winner of the Artesia-Bell Gardens match. The site and time have not been set^[1].

Elsewhere in the River Valley League

In other first-round action, No. 3 Jurupa Valley beat Kaiser 3-2 and will face Rio Mesa on Thursday in Division 8. River Valley League champion Norte Vista's season ended with a 3-1 loss to Rim of the World in the Division 6 playoffs^[1].

This account relies on The Grizzly's coverage and on comments from Bauer. Ramona Convent and Geffen Academy coaches and Big Bear players were not quoted in the source.